Education – Outreach Programs
Can’t bring your class to The Magic House? Let The Magic House come to you! More than 25,000 students every year participate in Magic House programs in their own schools, libraries, camps and child care facilities.
Two outreach program formats – Learning Lab Programs and Interactive Presentations – allow the museum’s staff of traveling educators to reach a large number of students in a short amount of time.
For further information or to make a reservation, please contact the Education Department: educationinfo@magichouse.org.
Special Discounts
Outreach Special — September and October 2012
Half-price for daytime outreach programs scheduled for the months of September and October. Review the many programs available by visiting Outreach Programs. Call early to make your reservation before this good deal sells out.
Education Program Fund Scholarships
FREE outreach programs are available to schools that serve 50% or more free and reduced lunch students on a first-come, first-served basis. Thanks to our generous donors who contributed to The Magic House Education Program Fund which enables all students to have access to free learning experiences.
PNC Foundation Preschool Outreach Programs
The Magic House is proud to partner again with the PNC Foundation to provide disadvantaged preschoolers, their families and educators, educational programs free of charge!
Science Learning Lab Programs
Science Learning Lab Programs transform ordinary school environments into extraordinary science learning labs. These programs require 10 adult volunteers and space to accommodate 10 learning stations. Schools may schedule up to three sessions per day. The same program must be presented at each session.
$200 one session per day
$250 two sessions per day
$300 three sessions per day
Fees are based on schools within a 25-mile radius of The Magic House. For schools beyond that distance, please add $1.50 per mile.
| Waterworks | K to 5th grade |
Explore the properties of water when you dive into this interactive investigation. Learn about water purification, surface tension, water pressure, the impact of water on the environment and more.
Program Length: 50 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 50 students
GLEs Science K-5: Earth Systems 1Ab, 1Bc, 2Ea, 3Ea, 3Ab
| Saving the Great Outdoors | 1st to 5th grade |
In this hands-on science program, the impact of human activity on the environment is emphasized as children learn about recycling, water purification, oil spill clean-up and environmental science.
Program Length: 50 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 50 students
GLEs Science 1-5: Science, Technology and Human Activity 1Aa, 1Ca; Ecosystems 1Da, 1Ab, 2Ea, 3Ea, 3Ab
| Simply Machines | 3rd to 5th grade |
Students discover how simple machines play a part in everyday life as they investigate wedges, screws, levers, inclined planes and the wheel and axle.
Program Length: 50 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 50 students
GLEs Science 3-5: Force and Motion 2Fa, 2Fb, 2Fd
| Watt's Up With Electricity? | 3rd to 5th grade |
The fundamentals of electricity and magnetism come to light in this program. Students create a working flashlight from a soda can, construct an electromagnet and become enlightened about electrical safety.
Program Length: 50 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 50 students
GLEs: Science 3-5: Matter and Energy 2Aa, 2Ab, 2Ac
| Force and Motion | 3rd to 5th grade |
Newton’s laws come to life with this hands-on approach to learning the basics of force and motion. Experience the effects of friction and gravity on objects in motion. Explore contact and non-contact forces and the basics of inertia while discovering how potential and kinetic energy affect a marble’s average velocity.
Program Length: 50 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 50 students
GLEs Science 3-5: Force and Motion 1Ab, 1Ba, 2Aa, 2Ab, 2Ac, 2Ba, 2Db, 2Fb, 2Fd
Science Interactive Presentations
Interactive Presentations delivered by a Magic House museum educator, are designed for classroom or assembly settings depending on the size of the audience.
| Sense-sational Science | Preschool |
This hands-on exploration of the senses lets kids see the world through rose-colored glasses, chime in on a listening experiment and learn how the senses work.
Program Cost: $80 (minimum two sessions)
Program Length: 30 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 20 students
Thanks to a generous grant from the PNC Foundation Preschool Program, a limited number of qualifying school groups will participate in this field trip free of charge.
| Water Wonders | Preschool |
Put on your raincoat, push up your umbrella and wade through a storm of wet and wild experiments! Find out how liquid can defy gravity, experience shower power, learn how paper can stay dry under water and discover even more watery wonders.
Program Cost: $80 (minimum two sessions)
Program Length: 30 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 20 students
| New! Big Science | K to 5th grade |
Experience science wonders both big and small with these amazing science activities. Discover the effects of air pressure on eggs and shaving cream, expand perimeter and step through an index card and have a ball with kinetic energy. Be amazed by a miniature hot air balloon, gravity defying water and shrinking chip bags while observing everyday items change size right before your eyes!
Program Cost: $150
Program Length: One hour
Size Limit: Maximum 75 students
GLEs Science K-5: Matter and Energy 1Da, 1Db; Force and Motion 1Aa-c, 1Ba; Scientific Inquiry 1Ca-c
| Science Spectacular | 1st to 5th grade |
Students will be amazed as they learn about gravity, flabbergasted as they learn about force and motion, and mystified as they watch objects roll uphill in this program that develops scientific inquiry skills.
Program Cost: $150
Program Length: One hour
Size Limit: Maximum 75 students
GLEs Science 1-5: Matter and Energy 1Da, 1Db; Force and Motion 1Aa-c, 1Ba; Scientific Inquiry 1Ca-c
| Show Me Science! | 1st to 5th grade |
See the amazing power of air, celebrate your center of gravity and observe the shocking effects of electricity. This demonstration utilizes flying paper, chirping chicks and sinking soap to illustrate everyday physics.
Program Cost: $150
Program Length: One hour
Size Limit: Maximum 75 students
GLEs Science 1-5: Matter and Energy 1Aa, 1Ab, 2Ac; Force and Motion 2Ba; Earth Systems 1Cc
| Fantastic Physics | 1st to 5th grade |
Predict and observe what happens when air, water, energy and sound work alone and with other substances. The remarkable reactions illustrate physics in action, including an incredible shrinking marshmallow, a glove that waves itself and packing peanuts that disappear!
Program Cost: $150
Program Length: One hour
Size Limit: Maximum 75 students
GLEs Science 1-5: Matter and Energy 1Da-c, 2Aa-b; Earth Systems 1Ca
| A Little Bit of Arts and Science | Preschool |
This interactive program brings parents and children together for science discovery and fun. Let us create a memorable family event at your school with this hands-on investigation of air, color, magnets and more.
Program Cost: $200
Program Length: 45 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 50 students and their accompanying adults
Thanks to a generous grant from the PNC Foundation, a limited number of qualifying schools will participate in this program free of charge.
Math Interactive Presentations
| Math With Clifford | Preschool |
It’s big fun for little learners! After listening to a Clifford tale, children sort the Big Red Dog’s belongings to discover simple math concepts of counting and size order.
Program Cost: $80 (min. two sessions)
Program Length: 30 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 20 students
| Measuring With Clifford | Kindergarten |
Clifford went on vacation and left some of his belongings behind. Students explore measurement and use non-standard units of measure to figure length, width and capacity as they pack a box to send to Clifford.
Program Cost: $90 (min. two sessions)
Program Length: 45 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 20 students
GLEs Math K: Measurement 1A, 2A
| Money With Clifford | 1st grade |
Students explore how money can be saved or spent as they learn to count and sort money. Children “shop” in a pretend pet store to buy Clifford and his friends some canine necessities.
Program Cost: $90 (min. two sessions)
Program Length: 45 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 30 students
GLEs Math 1: Measurement 1D
Thanks to a generous grant from Citi, a limited number of school groups will participate in Clifford financial education outreach programs free of charge.
Early Literacy Interactive Presentations
| Sounds With Seuss | Preschool |
Romp through the wonderful world of sounds based on Dr. Seuss’ Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? After the story, children are encouraged to recall sounds from the book and identify mystery sounds.
Program Cost: $80 (minimum two sessions)
Program Length: 30 minutes
Size Limit: Maximum 20 students
| Seuss on the Loose | Kindergarten |
Learn all about the author who has enchanted generations of children, join in a rhyming game and create a silly Seuss-like story. This interactive literacy-based program is designed to help children read, rhyme and recognize simple words.
Program Cost: $150
Program Length: One hour
Size Limit: Maximum 60 students
GLEs Comm. Arts K: Reading 1B, 1C, 2B